Downtown Charleston – Lower Historic District Hotels

0 miles from Charleston Historic DistrictUpper-midscale, smoke-free, historic-district townhomes
Located in downtown Charleston near City Market
0.2 miles from Port of Charleston
2 floors, 31 1-bedroom and two-bedroom suites
Elevator
No shuttle to Port of Charleston
No swimming pool
Kitchen in every suite
Free Internet in room
Parking costs $20 per night
No park and cruise allowed
Smoke-free hotel - does not allow pets

0 miles from Charleston Historic DistrictUpscale, smoke-free, historic-district hotel
In downtown Charleston - across street from City Market
Less than a mile from Port of Charleston
5 floors, 212 suites - AAA 3 Diamonds
No shuttle to Port of Charleston
No swimming pool
Exercise room
Restaurant - room service
Restaurant open for breakfast only
Free Internet in room
Valet parking only - $25 per night
No park and cruise allowed
Smoke-free hotel - does not allow pets

0.1 miles from Charleston Historic DistrictLuxury, smoke-free, downtown Charleston hotel
Member of Leading Small Hotels of the World
0.1 miles from Port of Charleston
6 floors, 70 rooms and suites - AAA 4 Diamonds
No shuttle to Port of Charleston
Outdoor rooftop swimming pool - exercise room
Restaurant - lounge - room service
Restaurant open for lunch and dinner only
Free continental breakfast
Free Internet in room
Valet parking only - $20 per night
No park and cruise allowed
Smoke-free hotel - does not allow pets

Downtown Charleston Hotels: A Local's Guide

Downtown Charleston can be roughly divided into upper and lower historic districts. Hotels in the lower historic district, listed on this page, are south of Calhoun Street (see our Downtown Charleston map).

Shops and restaurants in Downtown Charleston's lower historic district center mainly around Charleston's City Market and King Street. "The Market," as it is known to locals, resembles Pike Place in Seattle except it's much tamer – and a little lamer. (There are no fresh flowers or flying fish!) It stretches through four large, open-air sheds located a block from the Charleston Harbor. In the old days, vendors came here to hock meat and vegetables. Today, it's "tourist central" – the best place in town to find Charleston souvenirs like pralines and sweetgrass baskets.
As for King Street, shops that are located below its intersection with Calhoun Street tend to feature exclusive chain brands like Guicci, Godiva, and Ralph Lauren. Many of the boutiques are part of the large and elegant Charleston Place Hotel. (Local's tip: The lobby of this hotel offers a lovely and air-conditioned respite from Charleston's summer heat. It's also the best place to find a clean restroom.)

King Street is quite long, and this portion of it also touts Charleston's most "hoity-toity" antique stores. Everything in them is ultra-expensive, so be forewarned.

Local's Tip: In general, Charleston hotel rates are lowest in July and August ... and December through February. October and April through early June offer the mildest weather.